DIY & Crafts

Yard Games – How to Make a Cornhole Board

by craftmin | December 24, 2017

Do your family and friends love backyard games such as bean bag toss? It has become more than just something to pass the time with during summer as fans and players increase and tournaments abound.Do you want to know how to make a cornhole board that has a bright yet homey appeal? Check our step-by-step tutorial below for how to make a cornhole board just for your own bean bag tossing game. While lazing around and playing in the summer, you can also check out these diy backyard fire pits to complete the summer experience.

How to make a cornhole board

Our enthusiastic DIY-er Jamison and his wife Jamie undertook this project to make cornhole boards for their lake house neighbors, since they spend so much time over there. Being an engineer, Jamison took the cornhole board one step further with a scoring board and drink holder. Bean bag tossing games are thirsty work after all. Check out further our diy backyard ideas.

(2) Dimensions for how to make a cornhole board

A note on the cut list: Most boards come in 2′ x 4′ x 3/4″ but if the board you bought is a different size, then you will need to adjust your cuts. The 2x4s are nominal sizes but 1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ are the exact measurements of the board.

Be mindful that the official measurement requirements for a cornhole board set by the American Cornhole Association is a rectangular 48″ x 24″ x 1/2″ plywood. The cornhole platform front should stand at 4″ while the back end should be exactly 12″ from the ground. ACA regulations also state that both front and back ends should be at a 90 degree angle to the deck face.

(3) Working on the legs

This cornhole board is designed for portability and storage. Round off the edges of one end of the legs so we can rotate them closed whenever we want to store the board. Either use a compass to mark the rounded edge or, like our intrepid diyer, use part of the tape to mark the rounded edge.

Drilling tip: Always mark the spot you will be drilling, then drill through most of the wood but stop just before the drill bit goes through the whole board. Turn over the wood and then drill the rest of the hole to avoid tearing the edges. This will give your hole a clean smooth finish.

A jig saw is fine to cut the rounded edge but a band saw will give you a cleaner cut.

(4) Frame assembly

Now, it’s time to work on the frame of the cornhole board. First, begin by pre-drilling the holes and then screwing the wood together.

Pre-drilling tip: always use a smaller bit when pre-drilling holes. Example: If you use screws sized #10, use a 7/64″ drilling bit. Likewise, use 3/32″ drill bits for #8 screws. Apply glue to the pre-drilled holes before screwing the wood to add stability and secure the fit.

(5) Deck Matters – Topping the top

Next, we will be securing the DECK or the top platform to the frame. Pre-drill the holes, apply glue and then screw and secure on the top.

(6) Hole on top

To accurately measure the hole’s centerpoint, use your pencil to mark 9″ down from the top and 12″ from each side. The hole must be 6″ in diameter to follow the regulations set for the game. Regarding this part, there are several options available:

Use a 6-inch hole saw and just drill the requisite hole.

Or with a jig saw, mark and then cut your six-inch hole, using a compass. If you don’t have one to hand, make this makeshift compass.

Poke two small holes, 3 inches apart on a piece of paper. Nail one of the holes on the centerpoint you have measured on your board then drag around the other hole until you have drawn a 6″ circle. Yeah, I know, better just use a compass.

For a clean edge, first drill a hole through the wood then use a jig saw to cut the hole.

Sand the entire surface evenly and thoroughly: not only the sides and corners, also the inside of the hole. Add putty over all the screw holes. If you have any scrap wood, it can be made into these diy nail and string art that you might want to check.

(7) Finishing with flair

Prime the whole board, including the legs. Leave it to dry and then re-sand the whole board again. Remember that the cornhole board will be sitting outside, so don’t skip this part. After re-sanding, start wiping off any residue then you can start preparing for painting the board.

There are no regulation colors set, so you have free choice. However, there are rules for the kind of paint to use. To be ACA-compliant, paint using a semi-gloss exterior latex. Because of how the game is played, the surface can allow the cornhole bags to slide but it should not be too slippery. White is still the preferred color of choice, but like what was mentioned – all colors are in play.

Go for aesthetics, a design scheme, or for team colors (baseball, basketball, or football). To get the angling straight, use and stretch painter’s tape. Paint as usual but allow the paint to dry after each coating. Choose paint that can weather the outdoors and preferably coat the board 2 – 3 times.

How to make a cornhole board storage-friendly? Design it with foldable legs. Using carriage bolts, wing nuts and washers, attach the foldable legs.

Now, you are ready for your bean bag toss and break out the backyard fun. Official ACA rules can be foundhere.

Source: How to make a cornhole board here and here. Printables are here but needs email subscription. Scoreboard and drink holder plans are included in the downloadable pdf file.